Leaf and paper gathering device



y 8, 1951 0. o. THOMAS 2,552,467

LEAF AND PAPER GATHERING DEVICE Filed Jan. 22, 1941 INVENTOR. DUKE D TIM/M05 mom FTI R EYS Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My present invention relates to a device for gathering refuse and trash such as leaves, paper and the like, and has for an object the provision of a device of the character designated which will permit the user to gather refuse without stooping and without having to touch the same with his hands.

A more specific object is to provide a device of the character designated embodying one or a plurality of pins or tine carried on the end of a suitable handle, on which the refuse is impaled, together with a stripper member associated with the the pin or pins, and a member slidably mounted on the handle by which the user moves the stripper member outwardly of the pins to discharge the refuse impaled thereon.

Another object is to provide a compression spring loosely surrounding the handle and operatively interposed between the slidable member and an abutment at the end of the handle, with means rigidly connecting the slidable member and stripper, whereby the stripper is biased inwardly along the pins, permitting them to pierce and gather the refuse.

Further objects are to make the entire gathering mechanism compact, especially in length, and to mount all of the same at one end of the handle, thereby leaving the major portion of the handle free and unobstructed, adding to the users convenience; to connect the operating sleeve to the stripper member by a pair of rods passing slidably through a flange on the end of the handle and connected either to a plate forming the stripper member, or alternately to provide a loop in the rods surrounding one or more of the pins, thereby to provide the stripper member; to pro vide pins which in transverse cross section are other than round, preferably square; and in general to provide a light weight, inexpensive device readily adaptable to mass production, and fully effective for its intended purposes.

A device embodying the features of my invention is illustrated in the acompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of one form of the device embodying a stripper in the form of a plate with the same in innermost position on the pins;

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged side elevational views of the lower end of the device with the stripper plate moved partially to stripping position;

Fig. 4 is a view of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3 with the stripper plate in full stripping position;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the stripper plate taken along line V-V of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View along line VI-VI of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 and showing a modified form of stripper; and,

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the device shown in Fig. 7.

" Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, my improved device embodies an elongated handle [0 which may be made of wood and which may correspond generally in length and diameter to the handle of the usual household broom. On one end of the handle, hereinafter called the lower end, I mount a member ll, having a socket [2 for receiving the handle, and an integrally formed flange IS. The member H is connected to the handle by means of a pin 14 passing therethrough.

Passing through openings in the flange 13 are the threaded ends l6 of a plurality of pin H, which may, if desired, be rounded although threading the square section is entirely satisfactory. The pins I! are square in transverse cross section except for the upper threaded ends, which as stated may be square and pointed a at l8. They are held on the flange l3 by means of upper and lower nuts [9 and 2|, respectively.

Slidably mounted above the handle I0 is a manually movable sleeve 22 which may likewise be made of wood and which has an enlarged diameter lower portion 23, and a reduced diameter upper portion 24 of a size to be conveniently grasped in the hand. Slidably mounted about the pins for reciprocation thereon is a stripper plate 26. The stripper plate is fixed in axially spaced relation with respect to the sleeve 22 by means of a pair of rods 21. The rods are flat at the upper ends 28 and are secured to the large diameter portion 23 of the sleeve 22 by means of screws 29. The lower ends of the rods 21 are threaded and secured to the stripper plate 26 by means of upper and lower nuts 3| and 32, respectively, The flange I3 is notched as indicated at 33 to pass the rods 21.

Loosely surrounding the handle and interposed between the flange l3 and the sleeve 22 is a compression sprin 35. The spring 35 is of a strength to bias the stripper plate 26 upwardly with the nuts 3| thereon in contact with the flange I3, and yet is sufficiently weak to permit the user to move the sleeve 22 downwardly without excessive force.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 7 and 8, I show a somewhat modified form of the device in which the stripper plate 26 is eliminated. As

shown, I may employ a single one of the pins I1, disposed centrally of the flange l3 of the member II, and secured thereto by means of upper and lower nuts 34 and 36, respectively. In place of the stripper plate 26 and the separate rods 21 I provide a continuous length of rod 31, fiat at the upper ends 38 and 39 and secured to the slidable sleeve 22 by means of screws 4| and 42. The rod 3'! is bent transversely as indicated at 43 and is provided in that portion with a loop 44, loosely surrounding the pin 11. Except for the changes noted, this modification is identical with the one.

handle HI, and presses the pins I'I downwardly V on the refuse, such as leaves and the like lying on the ground until the pins are full. He then holds the handle in one hand, and presses downwardly on the fsleeve 22, causing either the stripper plate 25 or the transversely bent portion 53 of the rod '3? to advance to the position shown in Fig. l, thereby stripping the pins of the material thereon. The large diameter end of the sleeve preferably contacts the upper end of the socket portion 12 of member H before the spring is fully compressed, thus preventing damage to the spring. Trash maythus be gathered and removed -from the ground, the same being deposited in a pile or in a suitable'container for disposal.

It is to be noted that all of the operating mechanism is disposed entirely at one endof the handle, leaving the major length thereof unobstructed and free to-be grasped by the user. The particular disposition of the spring between the flange l3 and sleeve 22 serves to make the device compact and inexpensive of manufacture. It will be apparent that the modification shown in Figs. '7 and 8 may embody more than one pin if desired. I have found that the pins square in cross sections are more easily stripped and are generally more suitable than round pins, it appearing that paper, leaves and the like are not as tightly engaged frictionally about a square pin as about the usual round pin, and I have experienced no difiiculty With material accidentally falling off the square pins. In actual operation I have found that a device made in accordance with my invention is capable of picking up very large quantities of refuse before being unloaded and without undue eifort on the part of the user.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire therefore that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended .claim.

What I claim is:

In a refuse gatherer, a handle, a flange member having a socket in which the lower end of the handle is secured, a sleeve slidably surrounding the handle and having a large diameter portion 'fadj acent the 'fiange member and a reduced diameter portion at its other end, a compression spring loosely surrounding the handle between the large diameter portion of the sleeve and flange member and biasing the sleeve'upwardly on the handle, a refuse gathering pin secured to the flange member, a stripper member slidable on said'pin, and a pair of substantially diametrically opposed parallel rods rigidly connected to the large diameter end of the sleeve and to' said stripper member.

' DUKE D. THOMAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

